China Bans All New Zealand Milk Powder Imports On Botulism Scare

China stops importing milk powder from New Zealand after Fonterra, the country's biggest company, found bacteria which can cause botulism in some of its dairy products.

CAMBRIDGE, NEW ZEALAND (FILE) ( TVNZ) - China has halted the import of all New Zealand milk powder after bacteria that can cause botulism was found in some dairy products, New Zealand's trade minister said on Sunday (August 4).

"It's better to do blanket protection for your people and then wind it back when we, our authorities, are in a position to give them the confidence and advice that they need before doing that," he said.

Tests at the time were cleared so it was sold to eight customers. Tests on a sample from the same batch showed high levels of a bacteria which is usually harmless in March this year, local media reported. Further tests off that product detected Clostridium Botulinum.

"Right until the very end this was a surprise for us and our technical staff," said Gary Romano, managing director of milk products at Fronterra.

Most of China's dairy imports come from New Zealand, which relies on dairy for 25 percent of its exports.

It is the second dairy contamination issue involving New Zealand's largest company this year. In January, Fonterra said it had found traces of dicyandiamide, a potentially toxic chemical used in fertiliser, in some of its products.

The announcement comes as Fonterra is planning to launch its own brand of milk formula in China, five years after its involvement in a 2008 scandal in which melamine-tainted infant formula killed at least six and made thousands ill.